The drug industry’s army of lobbyists and hundreds of millions in cash fed the obstructionist, anti-government attitude of the Senate minority.

As the first plank of the “First 100 Hours” package to be blocked in the Senate, the punditocracy will likely spin this as a “failure” of the new congressional leadership.

But there is no failure in fighting for the public will.

Senate leaders even sought bipartisan compromise, proposing a bill that only “allowed” Medicare to negotiate, instead of the stronger House bill that required negotiation. But that only enticed six Republicans to support the bill. Meanwhile, the White House pledged a veto .

The Bush Administration has never been shy about expanding its executive authority. Yet when Congress tries to give the Administration more flexibility in negotiating drug prices, they are fighting it at every step.

Senate conservatives were not interested in bipartisan governing, only in obstruction on behalf of the special interest.

The Senate leadership can hold their heads high. The disgrace of denying democracy belongs to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Ky., and the other conservative senators who have to face the voters in 2008:

But considering Trump said he wants to "drain the swamp," you might be surprised he picked someone who literally built the swamp. Scott Pruitt is a pioneer in turning government over to corporate special interests.

1300 Carrier manufacturing jobs are still going to Mexico. And the 800 jobs staying in Indiana aren't safe, because Carrier is moving to automate much of the work, with the help of the American taxpayer.

About Bill Scher

Bill Scher is the Online Campaign Manager at Campaign for America's Future, and the executive editor of LiberalOasis.com. He is the author of Wait! Don't Move To Canada!: A Stay-and-Fight Strategy to Win Back America, a regular contributor to Bloggingheads.tv and host of the LiberalOasis Radio Show weekly podcast. He has opinion articles that have been published by the New York Times, Minneapolis Star Tribune and Omaha World-Herald, and has made appearances on CNN, MSNBC and NPR among other TV and radio outlets.